Flanoaraph co



R. M. MI cC ORMAC. PAPER ROLL AND HOLDER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2- I918.

Patented July 8, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES ,4 TTORNEYS THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO" WASHING-TON. D. C.

R. M. MAcCORMAC.

PAPER ROLL AND HOLDER THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1918.

. nrromsys'l THE COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH-W- WASHINGTON. IIQC- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ROCKWELL MEARs'MAecoRMAc, or KANSAS'CIT'Y, MISSOURI.

PAPERPROLL AND HOLDER THEREFOR.

Application filed May '2, 1918. I Serial No. 232,100.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROCKWELL MEARS MACCORMAG, a citizen of the United States,'

and a resident of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a'new and Improved Paper-Roll and Holder Therefor, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention is intended more particularly for embodiment in a toilet fixture and paper roll, although the novel fixture and roll are capable of other uses.

The general object of the invention is to provide in combination a novel fixture and a paper roll having particular characteristics, the whole being so formed and arranged that certain definite results are obtained, among which are the following: (1) That when the fixture and roll are properly coordinated, the roll becomes automatically locked by the locked engagement of fixture elements within the roll and remain so until the paper has been used up or nearly so, thereby preventing the unlocking and the separation of the elements, whereby to pre-" vent theft of the roll of paper; (2) when the roll of paper is in place and it is turned about it axis through an angle approximately half a revolution, it is automatically arrested and prevented from turning further in the same direction, so that no more paper can be unwound in that particular operation and therefore the amount of paper that can be taken from the roll in one operation is limited; (3) that at each of said limited partial revolutions of the roll of paper, there maybe torn off two sheets or portions of predetermined equal length, one of which may be separated at the beginning of a partial revolution or prior to it and the other at the end of the operation or stopping point in the roll, thereby providing sheets of about one-half of the circumference of the roll and twice the number of sheets'to the cycle of operations as compared with ordinary rolls, and with one-half the usual variation in length between that of the first sheet taken from a new roll and that of the last remaining sheet to be taken from a used-up roll, all of which makes for better service, more uniformity, and for economy (4) that when a roll of paper is turned approximately half a revolution and released after tearing off a fixed portion, the roll of paper will be automatically returned to its Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919. r

normal position for the operation to be repeated; (5) that when any'terniinal portion ofthe roll of paper is torn off, the position theroll of paper is automatically causedto take at that particular time iss'uch that the end of the next sheet to betorn off will have been carried laterally outward and away from the body of the roll at the line of per-- forations and away from the center of gravity, so that the free end of said sheet to be torn off will have been displacedand loosened from the roll and the roll automatically turned back to its normal position, the said free end to be, left depending tangentially on the roll free and clear and ready to be grasped when another sheet is desired; (6) that when any roll of paper is nearly used up the amount remaining isap parent and there is not enough left to last until the next fixed time for examination and replenishing, the paper so remaining can be at once readily removed and rewound on the outside of'a new full roll or a partly used roll of paper andthe left over part be then used first, thereby avoiding waste and minimizing the possioilitv of the fixture supply becoming exhausted: that the roll of paper can be accommodated and revolved and used with equal efficiency either with the roll of paper so that the loose end will hang down toward the outer side of the roll toward the operator or hang down at the back or that side of the roll farthest from the operator and vtoward the bracket; (8) that rolls of paper of different widths and characters can be used without affecting the efficiency of operation of the fixture in accordance with the particular need or preference in a given case.

. Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views, it being understood that'the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the, invention. 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fixture and roll embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is partly sectional plan view;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line'3 3, Fig 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the overbalancing weight to return the roll;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end viewof the outer portion of one of the bracket arms;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a device that may be employed for separating the axles and the elements carried thereby;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the fixture with the axle sections swung to positions to accommodate respectively the nearly exhausted roll and the new roll for the rewinding on the new roll of the remnant remaining on the old roll;

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Flg. 7 but illustrating a slight modification of the fix ture in which the bracket arms are hinged instead of resilient;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 7. I

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the outer end wall of one of the heads or cylinders, the view being given to show a modified stop device for limiting the turning movement of the roll. v I

In carrying out my invention, a bracket 10 or 10 is employed, preferably in the form of a plate which may be secured in position in any suitable manner and in supporting service. In Figs. 1 to 5 and in Fig. 7, the fixture presents forwardly extending integral arms 11 at the ends thereof which are normally convergent toward their outer ends, whereby the space between the arms widens toward the rear. In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and Fig. 7, the bracket arms 1.1 are resilient, the purpose being to permit the arms to be sprung apart for accommodating rolls of greater width. It is also for the placing of a new roll in the fixture as will appear. In Fig. 8 the bracket arms l1 are hinged as at 11 which is the equivalent of the resilient arms and they have lugs 11 produced thereon by bending a portion of the material inwardly at the desired angle so that said lugs constitute stops to limit the inward movement. The outer ends of the arms 11 or 11 are turned in curved form on themselves to provide tubular terminals thereon disposed vertically and these form bearings 12 as hereinafter explained for an axle composed of separable sections 13.

Each axle section carries a cylinder or head 14 to be entered as a plug in the respective ends of a tubular paper roll 15, the tubular core 15 of which is of flexible paste board or the like. The opposed or inner ends of the axle sections have respectively beveled terminals 18 at the bases of which are opposed transverse shoulders 19, the beveled surfaces facilitating the engagement of the sections and the transverse shoulders,

approximately square, serving to interlock the axle sections so that they have hooked engagement with each other. The shoulder 19 of each axle section forms one end wall of the recess 19 the opposite end wall 19 of which advantageously merges on rounded 3" lmes into the bottom wall of said recess, and

the end ornose 13 of each axle section is blunt or rounded to avoid a sharp angle in which the wedge key hereinafter referred to might bind.

To overbalance the axle, at one side, one section thereof has applied thereto a Weight 17 fitting in the one head or cylinder 14.

Said weight has a concave longitudinal depression 17 for the weight to lie snugly Each tubular bearing 12 has in the inner and outer walls thereof openings 20, 21, in which the adjacent axle spindle may turn. Said openings are oblong and overlap, the bearing opening 20 being extended forwardly beyond the bearing 21 and the bearing 21 being extended rearwardly beyond the bearing 20, so that the axle sections may be swung at approximately right angles to the normal position to lie parallel. for replenishing the supply as hereinafter explained. Also, the bearing openings 20, 21 in the inner and outer walls of each bearing 12 have downward extensions or cut-outs 22, said cut-outs accommodating the axle sections when the latter are disposed in parallel relation.

Each head or cylinder 14 is preferably hollow, presenting an inner and an outer wall, through which an axle section 13 passes, the head in the preferred form being adjustable along the axle as follows: Each hollow, cylindrical head 14 has imier and outer walls 23, 27 and one of said walls is stamped or pressed out with a hub 24 through which the axle section passes and a transverse pin 25 serves to hold the head in position on the axle, said pin passing.

through suitable holes alining, diametrically in the hub 21 and through one of two or more holes 26 in the axle section, there being two of such holes 26 shown; they permit of the head being differently positioned along the axle section, whereby the respective heads 14 may be adjusted to suit rolls 15 of "different widths. Cotter pins may be employed to fasten the pins 25. Said pins 25 are preferably fiat and resilient and are made to constitute stops to limit the turning of the roll to approximately half a revolution by engaging coacting stop projections 31 on the bracket arms 11 or 11 as hereinafter explained. The outer wall 27 of said head 14 is also of pressed or stamped metal and extends radially beyond the cylindrical surface of the head to thereby provide a radial flange or rim 28 and said wall 27 may be fastened as shown by means of lugs 29 011 the body of the cylindrical head, which ex tends through holes in the wall 27 and are bent'over against the rim 28. r Gage openings 28 are formed in rims 28, through which the amount of paperremaining on a nearly exhausted roll may be observed, that the supply may be replenished before the roll is completely used up.

To prevent turning of the roll 15 on the clamp heads 14 the rims 28 are formed with lugs or projections 32 preferably pressed in said rims, the lugs extending laterally'in Ward, that is to say, at the inner faces of the rims 28 and the roll 15 is formed in the ends thereof with radial cut-outs or depressions 33 to receive saidlugs. With the described arrangement when the-heads 14 are entered in the roll 15 at opposite ends until lock, the paper roll will be safely locked in position against theft until the paper is nearly used up after which the axle sections may be separated as hereinafter explained.

The paper in the roll 15 is perforated by lines of perforations 34 at the top of the roll'and a row 35 at the bottom of the roll,

the perforations 34, 35 in the successive layers of paper being in register, that is to say, the perforations are along a corresponding line in successive layers so that the sheets represented between lines of perforations do not overlap in successive layers. The perforations along the bottom of aroll are of a character to weaken the paper to a greater extent than the perforations 34 at the top. The provision of the varying perforations along lines extending to the core,

is for the special and important purpose of providing two sheets or portions of paper from each full or nearly full cycle or layer in a check-stop revolving fixture device and roll paper where heretofore always it has been possible to obtain only one sheet to one full cycle or full layer of paper in the roll. The purpose further is to produce sheets from first to the last in the roll of more uniform length, there being only one-half the usual variation in length between that of the first sheet taken from a new roll of paper than that of the last sheet from a roll that has been depleted.

To operate, the customary wrapper of the roll of paper having been removed and the free end of the first sheetor portion of the paper to be torn off loosened at the top of the roll, that is to say, at the line of perforations which are in line with the cut outs 33, the end of the sheet is allowed to hang free and clear. When the paper is now drawn upon for use, it will readily tear off at the bottom line of perforations where the paper is weakened to the greater extent and thus, when turning the rollthrough the complete angle to be arrested by the pins 25 engaging the stops 31 on the bracket arms and this also will leave hanging free and apart from the roll the loose end of the next sheet or portion to be torn off so that when the sheet to be torn is pulled upon, it will, by reason of the greater. strength of the perforated line 34, turn the roll of paper until the stops 25, 31, engage and arrest the further turning of the roll so that the sheet can be readily torn off which leaves free and clear the loose end of the nextsheet. The turning of the roll to a position for the stops 25 to engage the stops 31 will have swung the weight 17 onthe axle upwardly, so that it will tend to restore the roll to its normal position with the line of perfora tions 34 at the top. The pins 25 being resilient assist in the return of the rollby .their reaction after striking the stops 31. the adjacent ends of the axle sections inter- In replenishing the supply of paper by in:- serting a new roll, when a roll is nearly used up ifthis be desired in order to avoid the risk of the-supplybecoming entirely exhausted which will be particularly undesirable in the case of office buildings, hotels, schools, Pullman cars, and other public places, an opening can be cut radially through the few remaining sheets and through the core 15 at a point in the upper line of perforations 34 and an opening made sufficiently for the entrance of a key or tool 36, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 6, which includes a shank of suitable length having a handle 37 at one end anda beveled end 38 at the opposite end. Said tool or even the thumb or finger may be passed through the paper and core and into the space between the heads 14 which it will be observed are separated. The key 36 or finger may be employed to separatethe axle sections by springing or swinging them apart, the core 15 and the few remaining sheets thereon being sufficiently yielding for the purpose by permitting the heads 14 to be forced out of alinement. The axle sections and respective heads 14 may be swung at right angles to normal position, parallel or approximately so, as seen in Figs. 7 to 9, with the nearly depleted roll on the one axle section and the new roll on the other section. The respective sections and rolls may be turned through the medium of the stems 39 for winding the remnant of the nearly depleted roll onto the outside of the new roll. In thus winding the remnant of one roll onto another, it is important to note that the counterbalancing weight 17 is on one axle section only so that the single weight counterbalances the axle as a whole when the sections are alined and locked but with the axles swung at right angles to the alined position and parallel to each other and each axle carrying its separate roll, that axle having the weightl'? and the roll on which the remnant is to be wound is manually turned. The jerking. movement due to the weight on the axle section being turned is of little consequence since the axle section is positively controlled by the operator. The opposite section, however, from which the paper is being unwound is left free to turn without any jerking movement, such as might result in tearing the paper.

lVhen the winding of the paper from the old roll onto the new one is completed, the new roll may be locked in position by the locking of the axle sections as previously referred to.

It will be seen that the roll by the above construction may be reversed so that instead of the free end of the paper depending at the back of the roll, it may depend at the front. In either case the projections 32 on the heads 14 will be accommodated in the cut-outs 33 in the ends of the roll.

The engagement of said projections and cut outs prevents twisting of the roll in the fixture which might permit of tampering and the surreptitious removal of a roll. It will be observed that the projections of the lugs extend radially only a short distance in the cut-outs 33, thereby permitting the free unwinding of the roll to nearly the full extent thereof. The rounded lines of recess 19 admit of the wedge key 36 being turned in a manner to gradually separate the axle ends.

The greater weakness at the line of perforations 35 is produced by reason of the greater length of the perforations and a correspondingly decreased amount of material between the perforations.

The cylinder end 2'? shown in Fig. IO has a stop lug 2'5 stamped outward thereon, for use in lieu of stop 25.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself strictly to the mechanical details herein illustrated, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire .to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A roll holder adapted for rolls having depressions in their ends, said holder including a support, a divided axle mounted. to turn in said support and adapted to receive a roll, and a clamping head on each axle section and adapted to engage the ends of the paper roll, said clamping heads having projections on their inner faces adapted to engage in the roll depressions, to prevent a turning of said clamp heads and their respective axle sections relatively to the paper roll and relatively to each .other.

2. A paper roll holder including a .divided axle, means in which the respective sections of the axle are supported, said sections being swingable from a position in axialalineme-nt to positions approximately at right angles to said alining position,

means to lock the meeting ends of the alined sections, heads on the axle sections adapted to engage opposite ends of a roll when the sections are in the first position and adapted to receive separate rolls when the axle sections are in the second position, and a counterbalance weight on one axle section only, whereby the weight will act as a counter.- balance for the complete axle when the sections are alined, and when the sections are in the second position the one. section will be free of the counterbalance so that the windingupon one roll of the unused portion of a nearly depleted roll may beeffected without imparting a jerlqi movement to the roll being. unwound.

A fixture of the class described including an axle having series'of pin holes, roll-clamping heads on said axle, pins to a j t le fa ten the heads to the a le, said pins being adapted to be passed through the clamp heads and through difie -ent holes in the axle, and projecting radially to constitute stops, and stops on a relatively fixed portion of the fixture adapted to engage said pins when the roll-holding means has been turned approximately one-half revolution.

4:. In av device of the class described, a support adapted to be secured in position, bearings on said support, an axle mounted to turn in said bearings, roll-clamping heads on said axle, a separate weight on the axle within one of said heads and of increasing mass toward its outer end, and means on the heitd to clam-p said weight in position ;on the ax e.

.5, In a device of the class described, an axle formed of sections having opposed oppositely beveled rigid ends and lateral recesses to receive the respective ends, said recesses being of a size to leave free spaces beneath the respective beveled ends to accommodate a separting tool for disengaging said beveled ends, and means to mount a roll on said axle, said ends being ,disengageable laterally to dispose the axle sections at an angle to each other for separating said sections.

6. In a device of the class described, a sectional axle, means thereon to hold a roll, and hearings in which said axle sections may a'line and turn, said axle sections :being swingable in the respective bearings to assume positions at an angle to each other and to the alined positions.

7. In a fixture of the class described, a sectional axle, means thereon to hold a roll, means to :lock the adjacent ends of the axle sections in alinemerrt, and hearings in which the axle sectionsmay turn at their ends, said ninety degrees, the axle sections being turnable about their own axes when swung in their bearings from the alined positions.

8. In a fixture of the class described, an axle formed of separable sections, and rollholding heads on the axle 0n the respective sections thereof, each head being adjustable on its axle section, and said sections having interlocking meeting ends separable laterally to dispose the axle sections and heads at an angle for the separation of said sections.

9. In a fixture of the class described, an axle, bearings therefor, and roll-clamping heads on the axle, between the bearings, the said heads being hollow presenting inner and outer walls, the outer wall having a hub adjustably secured to the axle.

10. A fixture of the class described including a bracket, resilient arms on the bracket, the ends of said arms having vertical tubular elements, a sectional axle, and means on the axle sections to hold a roll, said tubular elements having approximately horizontal oblong openings in the inner and outer walls in which the axle sections have bearings, the opening in one wall of each bearing extending forwardly beyond the opening in the other wall, and the opening in said other wall extending rearwardly beyond the first opening.

11. In a device of the class described, sectional axles adapted to receive a roll, and

supporting means having bearings in which said axle sections are journaled and in which said sections may be swung from a position with their axes coincident to positions approximately parallel with each other.

12. In a device of the class described, a supporting fixture, and roll-clamping heads revolubly mounted in said fixture, said heads having a gage opening therein at the periphery thereof for observing the amount of paper remaining on a nearly exhausted roll.

13. A paper roll holder including axle sections, arms having hearings in which the respective axle sections are mounted, said arms being yielda'ble toward or from each other, and the axle sections being turnable in the respective bearings and swingable therein, independently of the yielding of said arms relatively to each other, to position the sections in alinement with each other or in positions at right angles to the alined positions; together with coacting rigid locking terminals on the adjacent ends of the axle sections to hold a roll on the axle with said locking terminals within the roll, said terminals being disengageable transversely to the axis of the axle to dispose the axle sections at an angle to each other for separating said sections.

. ROCKWELL MEARS MAOCORMAG. Witnesses:

F. T. SNAPP,

LOUISE K. LUCAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent. Washington, D. 0. 

